Elles e



E. E. HARTMAN.

OUTING EQUH MENT FOR AUTOMOBILISTS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-18,1919.

Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

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ATTORNEY ELLE's E. HARTMAN,

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

OUTING EQUIPMENT FOR AUTOMOBILISTS.

specification of Letters Patent. Patented 0013 21, 1919.

Application filed January 18, 1919. Serial No. 271,770;

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ennis E. HARrMnN, a subject of the King of Hungary, res1d1ng at New York city, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Outing Equipments for Automo'b-ilists, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in outing equipments, the object being to provide a combination of foldable structures to be used as chairs or tables and a rack to retain same when not in use. The rack, which formspart of the combination, is designed to be hung upon an automobile in any out of the way place, the back of the front seat, or on the front wall of the locker under the rear seat, for instance. Usually there is at least twelve inches of wall between the bottom of the cushion of the back seat and the floor, this being ample space to store at least five foldable structures made in accordance with my improvement.

I will now describe the device in detail, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 illustrates my structure in elevation;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view, the section being taken on a line 22 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail view, the section being taken on a line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a rack made in accordance with my improvement, the same being illustrated in combination with a plurality of folded structures; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view, the section being taken on a line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

A part of my improved combination con sists of a foldable structure which may be used as a table or chair, the same consisting of a block or support 6 provided with arms 7 and 8. In this instance I have employed four arms 7 and four arms 8, each of which are pivotally connected to the block 6 at 9 within recesses 10 formed in projecting portions 11. The outer wall 12 of said projecting portions acts, at 13, as a stop for the associated arm, to prevent or limit the spreading position thereof. The inner wall 14 of the recesses 11 acts as a stop to limit the inward position of said arms when said improved fo-ldable arms are folded as indicated in Fig. 4. Some of the arms (in this instance, arms 7) carry a sheet of canvas 15 to act as the seat, when the device is used as a chair, or a table-top, when the device is used as a table. When not in use, the structure can be folded up by moving the arms 7 and 8' inward to the position indicated by dotted lines l6 (Fig. 3), after which it can be placed in a rack and stored away, said rack being illustrated in Fig. 4. Each of the arms which carry the canvas sheet (in this instance arms 7 are preferably provided with looking devices consisting of bars 17 pivoted at one end, as at 18, to their re spective arms 7 (see Figs. 2 and 3). When the arms are spread to form a table or chair the locks will be moved to the full line position in Fig. 3, and when in such position will bear, at one end, against the block 6, thereby preventing the premature folding of the arms 7. When the structure is to be folded the locks will be moved to the dotted line position in Fig. 3 or away from block 6.

My improved rack consists of a series of separably connected links 19, 20, 21 and 22, the links 21 and 22 being provided with eyes 23 to be engaged by screws or the like to secure the rack to any suitable support. The

links 19 and 20. are connected to each other.

and to their respective hanger-links 21 and 22 by pins 24 which may be provided with cotter pins 25 to hold them in place. Each link 19 carries a thereto pivotally connected socket 26 and each link 20a thereto rigidly connected socket 27, said sockets being designed to receive the ends of the folded arms 7 and 8, as illustrated inFig. 4. The sockets 26 are connected to brackets 28, carried by the links 19, by bolts 29. Each socket 26 is further provided with a plunger 30 having a pin 31 working in a slot 32 to prevent the plunger from being forced out of the socket. Each plunger is backed by a spring 83 which acts to force the plunger outwardly, thereby exerting pressure upon the adjacent end of an inserted folded chair or table, the other end of the folded chair or table being inserted in the socket 27. The spring33 acts to force the folded chair or table to the right, in Fig. 4, thereby maintaining same rigid to prevent rattling. Each rack-memher A and B may or may not be secured at its lower end. By means of this construction, I am able at any time to add links to provide for the storage of more tables or chairs by merely connecting a pair of links (such as 19 and 20) together with their sockets to the assembly.

It will be apparent that any one of the number of chairs or tables can be taken from the rack, or all of them. To remove a table or chair it is but necessary to move it toward the left (in this instance) until the spring 33 is compressed sutliciently to permit the right end of the chair or table to clear its socket :27, after which said right end may be moved sidewise to clear said socket 27, whereupon the chair or table can be pulled out of the socket 26. Then the arms 7 are folded the canvas sheet 15 may be folded between same as shown in Fig. 4:. The inside diameter of the sockets 26 and 27 will be approximately the diameter ofthe nested arms when folded; hence they will not lash within said sockets and rattle. Fig. 5 illustrates this feature. l/Vhen the arms are slipped into the sockets they will be slightly forced together, which will cause same to bear firmly against the rear wall 1% of the sockets 10. This action will place the arms under strain, which will act to produce a rigid mounting of the folded structure in the rack.

nlaving described my invention, what 1 claim is 1. In an outing equipment, a foldable structure, a rack therefor consisting of hangers, sockets rigidly secured to one of said hangers to engage one end of said structure when folded, sockets pivotally con nected to the other of said hangers to engage the opposite end of said structure, and \jieldahle means within said last named sockets arranged to bear against the adja cent end of th'estructure.

In an outing equipment, a foldable structure, a rack therefor consisting of hangers, sockets rigidly secured to one of said hangers to engage one end of said structure when folded, sockets pivotally connected to the other of said hangers to engage the opposite end of said structure, a

plunger within said pivoted sockets, and a spring acting to force said plungeragamst the ad acent end of said structure.

Signed at New York city, N. Y., this 10th day of January, 1919.

ELLES E. HARTMAN.

#Vitnesses MAURICE BLoeH, EDUARn A. JARVIS.

Copies of this patent may lie obtained. for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 1). c. 

